Method and machine for wrapping helically split tubing



April 17, 1962 e. F. WALSH ETAL 3,029,585

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING HELICALLY SPLIT TUBING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1959 INVENTOR.

GREGORY F. WAL H BY LYLAN L. SEILHAN Donmo Y\.wm.sH

April 17, 1962 G. F. WALSH ETAL 3,029,585

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING HELICALLY SPLIT TUBING Filed Jan. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GREGORY BY LYLAN L. 5E\LHP\N DONALD K. WALSH W,W1W

' for wrapping wires,

United States Patent s 3,029,586 I I METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WRAPPING HELICALLY SPLIT TUBING Gregory F. Walsh, Lylan L. Seilhan, and Donald K. Walsh, Houston, Tex., assignors to AMP Incorporated,

Harrisburg, Pa.

' Filed Jan. 23, 1953!, Ser. No. 788,609

4 Claims. (Cl. 57-3) It is an object of this invention to provide a device 7 cables, hose (or similar objects) with helically split tubing whereby the tubing is applied quickly and easily as the wires are fed through the device. It is also an object of this invention to provide such a device capable of varying the pitch of the wrap by varying the speed of the travel of the wires relative to the speed of the wrapping device. 7

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device employing principles of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial view of the device of FIGURE 1, illustrating details of the wrapping structure;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through plane 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an embodiment of the device for opening the helical tubing prior to its application; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation view of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURE 5 the device may comprise a base member 10 suitably constructed to support the assembly. A fixed cylinder 12 is secured to the base member and is adapted to permit the object to be wrapped to pass longitudinally therethrough. The illustrative embodiment shows a bundle of wires W being wrapped. However this invention is adapted to wrap similar devices, e.g. cable, hose etc.

An outer cylinder 14 is coaxially disposed about the cylinder 12 and relatively rotatable about the common axis by means of bearing 16. A sprocket 1 8 is fixed to the outer cylinder 14 via a collar 19 and set screws 19" whereby the cylinder may be driven by a belt or chain 20 and attached to a power source 22.

Again referring to FIGURES 1 and 5, a frame 24, 26, 28 (FIGURE 1) forms a bracket which is secured (e.g., by welding) to the outer cylinder 14 by flanges 29, 29' and rotates with it. The bracket serves as a mounting for a supply of wrapping material of the type described above. An opening 30 in the frame 24 permits the wrapping material to be fed onto the wires. A yoke 32 is mounted within the frame 24 and is adapted to rotate about an axis concentric with the opening 30. This achieves unravelling of the material as it is fed toward the wires. Unless such rotation is permitted the material will kink after a few turns of the material are applied to the wires.

A rotatable spindle 36 bridges the arms of the yoke 32 whereby a spool 38 having the helically split tubing 40 wound thereon may be rotated to unwind the tubing as it is fed through the opening 30. It may be observed that three simultaneous rotational movements of the spool occur: (1) the spool 38 rotates about its spindle 36 to unwind the material; (2) concurrently the spindle 36 rotates with the yoke 32 about the opening 30 as an axis to unravel the material as it is fed to the wires; and (3) concurrently the spool 38, yoke 32 and frame 24, etc. rotate as a unit with the cylinder 14 about the fixed cylinder 12 to wrap the material around the bundle of wires. A counterweight C is fixed to the outer cylinder 14 to provide balance While the cylinder 14 is rotating. The counterweight may be adjustable to compensate for the amount of material on the spool.

An arm 39 is welded to the flange 29 at a right angle thereto (FIGURE 5). An extension member 39 is bolted to the arm (FIGURE 2) with an aperture 41 extending through it to retain a pin 42 therein by a friction fit. As the helically split tubing is fed toward the wires it is drawn across the pin 42 which uncurls it so that it is in the form of a substantially flat strip when it contacts the wires. As it is wrapped around the wire it again resumes its helical form to embrace the wires tightly therein. The pin 42 is secured to the outer cylinder 14 and revolves therewith. A hearing 44 on the inner tubing 12 guides the arm supporting the pin and permits this rotation.

The wires W may be fed through the cylinder 12 manually or by any standard feeding means, e.g., driving rollers as shown in the patent to Brady, No. 236,929. The movement of the wires through the cylinder 12 with the tubing secured to them causes the tubing to unwind from the spool 38 without the necessity of attaching it to a power means. Since the assembly 24, 26 etc. rotates at a constant speed the pitch of the material about the wires is determined by the speed at which the wires are fed through the cylinder 12. The higher the speed of travel of the wires through the cylinder, the greater the pitch of the winding. Conversely slower travel of the wires will decrease the pitch.

The yoke 32 may be power driven to rotate about the axis 34 or may be rotated manually. A rubber finger 46 may be resiliently secured to the frame in the path of the yoke 32 so that it will contact the yoke 32 as the 'assembly rotates. This will cause rotation of the yoke about the axis defined by opening 30 as described above. Of course any suitable power means may also be employed.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective against the prior art.

We claim:

1. The method of wrapping helically split tubing around elongated objects having a longitudinal aXis in the elongated direction including the steps of (1) moving the objects longitudinally; (2) simultaneously causing a coiled bundle of said tubing to revolve about the objects; (3) simultaneously rotating the bundle about its concentric axis; and (4) simultaneously rotating the bundle about an axis at right angles to its concentric axis, whereby the longitudinal movement of the objects feeds the tubing and the revolving motion of the bundle causes it to tightly wrap the tubing around the objects.

2. A machine for wrapping helically split tubing around elongated objects having a longitudinal axis in the elongated direction including: a supply of such tubing, means for feeding the tubing from the supply to the objects to be wrapped, means for rotating said supply about the objects, said objects adapted to slide longitudinally,

- means for permitting rotation of the tubing on a spindle, means for rotating said spindle, and means for uncurling the tubing as it is applied to the objects.

3. A device for wrapping helically split resilient tubing about elongated objects having a longitudinal axis in the elongated direction including a base, a cylindrical tube supported by said base whereby the objects to be wrapped 15 may be fed through said tube, a rotatable cylinder surrounding and concentric with said tube, means for rotating said cylinder, a means for retaining a supply of said resilient tubing fixedly secured to said cylinder, and means on the base between the tubing supply retaining means and the cylindrical tube for uncurling the tubing.

4. A machine for Wrapping helically split tubing for rotating spindle, and means for uncurling the tubing as it is applied to the objects.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 122,246 Gray Dec. 26, 1871 236,929 Brady Jan. 25, 1881 1,127,551 Vincent Feb. 9, 1915 1,526,572 Ten Eyck Feb. 17, 1925 1,956,730 'Reichelt Sept. 11, 1929 2,494,285 Clapp Jan. 10, 1950 2,733,753 Schlesselman et a1 Feb. 7, 1956 2,813,392 Woosey Nov. 19, 1957 

